The Big Book of Creative Rules and Strange Oddities

Perhaps I should start this post as, "What I did over my Summer Vacation".  One of the few things that I did do creatively this summer was to start YET another new journal.  Really?  I know, but for me, they seem to be like potato chips, I can't stop at just one.  

This journal started out as a great find from Dollar Tree.  Cause ya gotta love Dollar Tree.  For a store where things are only A DOLLAR, I sure can spend allot of them there.   Anyway, it is a lovely book, and it drew me in because there were several pages of great black and white photo's involving mountain climbing.

 As I flipped through it, I was thinking how the gentleman (who was a mountain climber) that wrote it, must have known no fear.  And as I glanced through it, one theme became apparent, he persisted.  Fear and Persistance.  Two words that I always seem to wrestle with when it comes to being creative.

I decided to try it out as a journal and explore my thoughts on being creative and my fear of failure.  And thus began, "The Big Book of Creative Rules and Strange Oddities", the journaling being me giving myself advice.  Then I decided it would be a series of rules.   Rules that made sense, but were presented in a silly, nonsensical way.   

For the art part, I got started by removing several pages, and then going back and gluing some pages together.  Above, I've taken two of the pages and on the right, just gessoed over the existing page.  On the left, I've glued down scrap book paper and then gessoed over that.  Now these two pages are ready for when inspiration hits.

Above are two completed pages.  They did turn out a bit messier than intended, but that's OK.  I like the feel of them.  Again, gesso over the book pages and then layers of paint, scrap paper, stamping, sewing etc.  The rule for these pages,  "Fake it till you Make it", seemed to mirror the faces of those young men, as they took those first hesitant steps up the mountain.

Without a doubt, these two are my favorite pages in the whole book.  

For as long as I've been creating books, I've always loved flaps, pockets, windows, things that pop out and move.  And that is what these two pages do.  They are actually pockets.  And the little man on the clock face spins.  

The text reads, "How many times should you toot?  Spin to find that number!".  The strong man has a tiny horn that dangles off his arm.  He is ready to toot too.  For me, this falls under "rule # 29".  Because I really do hate saying, look at me, look at me.  

Well, when it comes to my art anyway.

Tomorrow I'll show you the pages called, "Baby Steps".

Renewing my Creative Juices

I got the chance to take Dyan Reaveley's classes, while she was at The Crafty Scrapper.  Lemme tell ya, between Yarn Bomber's and a FAB Brit Artist visit, we are just feeling like quite the little art mecca here in town.  


Pictured above is the cover.  Hard to believe that we made this wonderful little book out of one sheet of watercolor paper.  One sheet.  Can you believe it?  Sweet Hub and I had quite the "who's on first moment" of me trying to explain that it was created from one sheet of paper.  

I love the little cut out windows.  The first page is just as we had created in class.  The page on the right I've added a quote and a vintage image. Once I got it home, I began to add some stitching and a few images and such.  Her backgrounds make it so easy to just go and play.  

The victorian boy peeping through the window is actually a cut out page.  

Hard to tell from this photo, but he's kinda like a huge tag.  Doodles on the right hand side of the page, were added after the stamping.  

I decided that this book would be all about creativity and art quotes.  This page just has some words tucked in amongst the doodling.  

These pages are exactly as they were from class, have not altered in anyway.  I love how you can make her inks as bright or muted as you like.  Since these were done directly onto water color paper, they are pretty bright.  I love color, so they are perfect for me. 

I added a small tag and a transparency over the image of the gal.  I will probably add a quote, just have not decided on what yet.  The larger white dots are gesso on top of the inks.  The center tags are just two tags glued together to make a pocket.  There is a stamped wooden spoon in the pocket.  The spoon reads, "what is art but a way of seeing".  I also added some stitching here too.  Water color paper is great.  Easy to stitch on, and it likes the Copics. 

The other side of the tag.

The way the book is created, there are some little edges that peek up, these are great for adding tags and things.  Here on the left I've added a transparency, and a stitched tag.  Did some artwork at the top with Copics. 

The page on the left, has been stitched and doodle quoted.  And a vintage image of a tea cup added at the bottom.  This is one of my favorite quotes.  The previous page peeking through is actually waxed paper.  I added an image, stitched around it, and then glued the bird onto the top of it all.  

This is the other side of that tag.  LOVE that you can do so much with her colors.  

The last two pages are just fun.  The little phone booth is on an corrugated accordion and pulls out.  Here, I've just slobbered unmercifully about how cool Dyan is.  Yes, I was star stuck, very much so.  


Thanks for taking a peep.  If you get the chance to take one of her classes, I highly recommend it.  Her energy and fun that she brings, as well as her knowledge of using her inks, is just tremendous.  I also expanded my knowledge of putting together a book.  Something that will be useful and can lend itself to vintage or new.  I'm sure I'll be boring you with more of that soon.  LOL.  Lucky you.  


  

ok, more journal pages

birds of worry page by cindy mayfield

Oh good, I'm glad you are not too bored.  Because pages are all I seem to want to do this week.  That and garden.  I'm beyond thrilled that my lettuce and arugula are coming along nicely.  I think they are the easiest things one can grow.  

Birds of worry page by Cindy Mayfield

I am a worrier. I worry. Not the wringing of hands, must take to my bed kind of worry. But I do let stupid things sometimes keep me awake at night. So, ever since I saw this quote, I've loved it.  Felt that it spoke to me.  This is the second time I've created a collage page with this quote.  And I LOVE the way the colors turned out. This was a previous page that I had started ages ago, so I finished it today.  Holy cow...how did I ever collage without a sewing machine?  LOL.  Yes, that's a big hunk of vintage lace sew onto the bottom of the page.

trio of journal pages by Cindy Mayfield

I did three pages today. Again, all existing pages that I just went back and "added to". I'm learning. Its good for me to step back. I very often get so excited to finish a project that I don't "step back". I do that in my art work, as well as my (merchandising) work. Stepping back and getting the big picture of what I am doing seems to help me work better. Helps me to see what needs what and where. This was something that they often talked about in some of the art classes I took. Sometimes I just find it hard to do. But, I'm learning.

Dylusions Love

Finally felt like playing with my new "toys" this morning.  Picked up the new Dylusions inks and stencils at The Crafty Scrapper while all the Cowgirls were here (more on that later).

Fun stuff.  After watching a few of Dyan's how-to video's I just began to spray and play.  No wrong way to create here.

Easy peasy to lay down a wonderful ink base and layer/or remove with water.  Once dry, I found the page took to Prisma Pencils, Pitt pens, crayons, inks and more.  

My finished page is now ready for my journaling thoughts on getting into the garden.  Was quite happy with this page.  The flowers on the bottom right hand side began to take on a personality of their own, very Alice in Wonderland.  And the quote is one of my faces, "Show me your garden and I shall tell you what you are" - Miguel de Cervantes.  I almost did a grid, but once my journaling is filled in, it will pull all the spaces together.  

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I'll save the other pages for when more inspiration strikes!

And, speaking of the garden.  Wish I had more flowers planted, as Spring has Sprung.  My Snaps were happy and bright, but the heavy rains kinda flattened em out a bit.  I hope that spring back.  

Sewing, Painting and Writin

Journal Page Invincible Summer by Cindy Mayfield

What a roller coaster ride this past month has been with the computer.  As it slowly disintegrated into no longer being able to download, upload or copy pics, I lost the ability to be a part of the blog world.  

Invincible Summer journal page by Cindy Mayfield

But funnily enough, when one time sucker closes, another one opens.  Not much computer time made time for journaling and creating.  Hmmm, image that.  And sewing.  I got a sewing machine.  I have been sewing everything, journal pages, cards, bills that need to be paid, everything.  As you can see above, it got sewn.  And yes, that is my hand-writing.

Proverbs Journal Page by Cindy Mayfield

I also got to spend several days with a couple of creative-minded friends, and that always gives me the kick in the seat to go on a crafty binge.  Sharing supplies and ideas is always a good thing.  

Happiness Journal Page by Cindy Mayfield

All of the above pages are from my Art Journal book, that I created when I had the chance to take Shelly's class last summer (with Paper Cowgirl). Shelly is so awesome and it was a real boost to my own artwork to learn how to use gesso when creating great journal pages. I had experimented some with acrylic paints, but in this class, it really gave me the chance to explore even further. 


This is my journal that I don't mind letting other people see.  Most are really collage pages with very little journaling.  Especially the last photo.  I just liked that scrap book paper and wanted to keep it.  But I did want it to look like it had been wet, molded and faded.  Ink and sand-paper helped to accomplish that.  Then I just stamped my new favorite quote on. And then hand-wrote in the authors name.  

Journal Cover by Cindy Mayfield

This journal is made from an old encyclopedia and I just gessoed the front and added my own wording. And speaking of my own text. I'll be teaching at class at Paper Cowgirl. Check out the blog, under the Creative Classes button for more details. I might give you a peek into my personal journal later this week.


Its great to be back!